Fire-escape.



%Znasses Ne. 830,678. PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

E. SE-NN.

FIRE ESCAPE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21', 1906.

frwerzfozrns NORRIS PETERS ciz, WASHINGTUN, u. c,

EMIL SENN, OF ZURICH, SWITZERLAND.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

Application filed November 27,1905. Serial No. 289,169.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMIL SENN, a citizen of Switzerland, residing at Zurich, Switzerland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a collapsible fireescape which may be readily manipulated and which when folded does not project beyond the building to which the escape is secured.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of my improved fire-escape, showing it folded; Fig. 2, a side View thereof; Fig. 3, a side view of the fire-escape, showing it unfolded; and Fig. 4, a cross-section on line A B, Fig. 1.

The letters a and 1) indicate the two side rails of a fire-escape ladder, to which are pivoted the rungs c and an upper cross-piece i, so that the ladder is foldable. The wall of the building D to which the fire-escape is attached is provided with a longitudinal recess f of a depth to receive the folded ladder. This recess opens on top into a chamber 1, protected by a covering' late 2, having slot 2. The inner or fixed rai a is secured to wall D within recess f by screws w. The outer or movable rail 6 has handles y and is adapted to rest upon a base-plate 9. At its upper end rail 1) is connected to a rope or chain m, passing through slot 2 into chamber 7'. The rope 'mpasses over pulley n, pivoted within chamber 3', and carries a counterweight Z. From the wall D project forwardly a series of hooks having bent outer ends 0, that embrace rail 12 when the ladder is unfolded, and thus serve to steady the structure. If desired,

the hooks may be pivoted to swing up and down together with the ladder. A springinfluenced catch 1' engages the outer side of rail 6 when the ladder is folded and one of the rungs 0 when the ladder is unfolded.

This catch is provided with a hand-rope s, accessible from the windows, and which thus enables the occupants of the building to lower the ladder by releasing the catch.

It will be seen that my improved fire-escape may be readily folded and unfolded and that when folded it is received entirely within the recessed wall, so as not to project beyond the building.

What I claim is 1. In a fire-escape, a wall having a recess and a communicating chamber, combined with a foldable ladder, means for securing said ladder within the recess, a slotted faceplate for the chamber, a rope assing through said plate and connected to t e ladder, and a weight suspended from said rope within the chamber, substantially as specified.

2. In a fire-escape, a Wall having a recess and a commun cating chamber, combined with a foldable ladder, means for securing said ladder within the recess, means within the chamber and connected to the ladder for balancing the ladder, and hookshaving bent outer ends that are adapted to engage the ladder, substantially as specified.

Signed by me at Zurich, Switzerland, this 9th day of November, 1905.

EMIL SENN. 

